Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.”
Luke 12:15 NIV
A man had come to Jesus, asking him to make his brother share the inheritance he had received when their father died. Jesus declined to judge between them. Instead, he issued this warning against greed and then illustrated that warning with a parable.
The parable tells of a rich man whose fields had produced a bumper crop. And the man was then faced with a dilemma. What to do with the grain that exceeded his current storage capacity? He could have given it to the poor, but he kept it all for himself, hoarding it and building bigger barns to hold it all. Then, he could retire, enjoying the good life and all it would bring to him. But he had no sooner reached that conclusion than he died. And he gained nothing from all that he had stored up.
Jesus concluded his parable by warning that the same fate awaited all those who store up things for themselves but are not rich toward God. The problem that Jesus warned against here is not about having wealth. Instead, it is what you do with it. Do you hoard what you have, keeping it for yourself? Or are you generous with it, storing treasure in heaven above (Matt. 6:19-21)?
The quality of your life should not be based on how much you have and how good it is. Experience instead the true riches of a life lived for God. Trust, not in your possessions, but in the Father above, who loves you more than you can know. Be on your guard against all kinds of greed.
